Article holding tray



July111f1944. '4 w. L; HOFF 2,353,401

` ARTICLE HOLDING TRAY July 11, 1944. w, L. HC1-F f 2,353,401

ARTICLE HOLDINGV TRAY Filed Aug. 6, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 1 F/G. 3 27 30 3 0 27 V I /5 /4 I .38 44 e 4 l: I l I l 26 5 i l l I 36 22 2/ "i1 l' Il #wf/vm? PV. L HOFF Arm/wir July 1l, 1944.I w. HOFF 2,353,401

v ARTICLE HOLDING TRAY `Filed Aug. 6, 1943 l 4'Sheets-Sheet 5 7a 67 I 7a July 11, 1944.

W. L. HOFF ARTICLE HOLDING TRAYv Filedv Aug.v 6, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Wn/7.0,? W. L HOFF 5MM? z. L74 A 47m/wmf Patented July 11, 1944 2,353,401 ARTICLE HOLDING TRAY Wilbur L. Hoff, Hollywood, Ill., assigner to Western Electric Company, Incorporated, New York, N. Y'.. a` corporation of New York Y Application August 6, 1943, Serial No. 497,716

1li Claims.

This` invention relates to article holding trays and. more particularly to trays for holding crystals during the etching of them.

It is an object of the. present invention to provideY a simple, rugged articleholding tray in which articles may be carried during the processing of them.

In accordance. with one embodiment of the invention, a box-like structure of hard rubber .is provided with removable shelves, which may be locked in the box-like structure with removable pins. Theseshelves. are` provided with transverse slots to receive large crystals which may be held on: the` shelves by removable side plates locked on the box-like structure with removable pins.

In another embodiment of the4 invention, the removableside` plates are eliminated and nesting shelves` having. suitably shaped apertures are locked by removable pins in an open-ended framework, in position to hold smaller crystals between notchedf upper edges of the apertures of a lower shelf and the lower surface of an adjoining upper shelf.

A complete understanding of the invention may be had. by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein Fig. 1 is a plan view ofv one embodiment of the invention. adapted to hold relatively large crystals, parts being broken away to more clearly illustrate those parts located beneath them;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal view, partly in section, taken substantially along the line 2 2 of Fig. l inthe direction of the arrows, and showing a portion of the. apparatus in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is an irregular vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line 3--3 oi Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 4 is an exploded view of the apparatus shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 on a reduced scale showing the ends. of the main body of the apparatus, the shelves, and the side plates disassembled;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational View of the second embodiment of the apparatus designed to hold relatively small crystals, parts being broken away to show those parts in back of them` more clearly;

Fig, 6 is a plan section taken substantially along the, line E-ii of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows, some of the parts being broken away to more clearly show those parts beneath them; Y

Fig. '7 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken substantially along the line I--'I of Fig. 5 in the direction of the arrows; and

Fig. 8 is a partially exploded view on a smaller scale than Figs. 5, 6 and '7 showing the end elevation of the main framework of the apparatus and showing the endsof the nesting shelves, some of them in nesting engagement and others of them displaced slightly to illustrate their construction more clearly.

. In the embodiment of the invention as'illustratedin Figs. 1 to finclusive, there is. provided a box-like` structure comprising. a, top plate I I and a bottom plate` Ill rigidly attached to four end members I2, I3., .I4 and.I5. The end members l2, I3, I4 and I5 have their outer edges in alignment with the front and rear edges of the top and bottom plates and have their adjacent inner edges spaced apart slightly to Vprovide passages Iii and I'I through `whichbath materials may pass to the interior of the structure to either etch or rinse crystals enclosedY in the holder.

Adjacent its right and left' ends,` the bottom platel I0 is provided with raised portions I8 and I9 (Fig. 2) which serve to support a lower shelf 2J. Adjacent the front and rear ends of the raised portions I8 and I9, grooves `2I and 22 (Fig. 3) are formed therein for receiving projecting lugs 23 and 24 extending downwardly from the lower edges of side plates 25 and 2B. The side plates 25 and 26 are provided with sockets 2'I-2'I (Figs. 2 and' 3) which are adapted to receive pins 28-23, which serve to lock side' plates 25 and 26 in 'the position shown in Fig. 3, the pins 28-28 passing through apertures 251--29V in the top plate I I. order to properly locate the plates 25' and 2li so that the sockets therein will align with the apertures 2S in the top plate, four pins 30 are xed to the top plate II and extend downwardly a short distance below the surface thereof toengage th inner surfaces of the side plates.

The end plates I2 and I3, each have a pairv of' grooves 3i and 32 formed therein and extending horizontally;` the grooves 3| being formed at a lower level and the grooves 32 at anupper level, butthe grooves .3 I. in bothplates I2 and I3 being in alignment, as well as the grooves- 32 in both plates I2and i3. Groovescr ways 33 and 34 arev of the shelves and into the slots 3T, thereby to permit the acid with which the crystals are to be with finger holes 44 which facilitate the insertion ,Y

or removal of the side plates into the position shown in the various iigures and also permit the acid into which the crystals are to be dipped to more freely enter the cavity of the holding tray. In addition to this entrance aperture to the interior of the holding tray, the top plate il and bottom plate l!! have apertures 45-55 and i5-llt, respectively, formed therein to further facilitate the entrance of the etching and rinsing baths to the cavity of the tray. The top plate il has a handle 41 attached to it in any suitable manner whereby the tray may behandled during the processing of the crystals therein.

All of the hereinbefore described parts are made of acid resisting material comprising either natural rubber or one of the rubber substitutes which will be acid resistant and this applies to all of the pins, shelves and plates, as well asthe handle of the apparatus. It should be noted that either large or small crystals of irregular configuration may be etched and rinsed by placing them in the tray either with or without the shelves 35 and 36 in place in the tray as long as the crystals are too large to fall out through the finger holes 44. When irregularly shaped crystals are being etched and rinsed the side plates Vand 25 will hold them'in place in the tray.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed in Figs. 5 to 8, inclusive, all ofthe parts are also made of acid resisting material, preferably hard rubber, and the construction of this form of invention is slightly different fromthat described hereinbefore, inasmuch as this embodiment of the invention designed to handle smaller sizes of crystals than those to be handled in the previouslv described tray. The tray for holding the smaller crystals comprises a top plate 6l) and a botto-m plate 5l held in spaced relation one from the other by posts E2, 63, 64 and 55, suitably attached to the top and bottom plates. Beneath each of the posts, thatv is. adjacent the corners of the bottom plate tillV a plurality of feet 66--65 are attached to the bottom plate for supporting it in spaced relation to any surface onwhich it is desired to place the tray.A The top plate 60 has a handle .Fil suitably attached or formed integrally with. it and the plate is .provided with a series, of apertures 63 through which rinsing water and acid in the acidbath may pass to contact with crystals 5S held by the tray. In this embodiment of the invention. a plurality of shelves l0, all of exactly the same construction, are adapted to be placed between the top plate 60 and the bottom plate 5l. and all of the shelves 'H1 have notches ll- 1| cut in their ends 'to receive retainer pins 'l2- 42, which may be passed through suitable apertures 13 13 in the top plate El! and nested in pockets 'lll-lll in the bottom plate GI., thus to retain the stack of shelves 1i! in the tray. In addition tothe stack of shelves lll, a cover plate 'l5 is provided for the top shelf and this ,plate is provided with apertures 'I5 in alignment with the apertures 68 in the top plate 60. The purpose of this cover plate 15 will become apparent as the description progresses.

Each of the shelves 'l0 comprises a main body portion 8D extending from end to end of the shelf and there is pro-vided an upstanding ledge 8| at each end of the shelf. Adjacent diametrically opposite corners of the shelves and extending upwardly from the ledges 3L are interlocking pins 82, which are adapted to enter sockets 83 (Fig. 8) extending upwardly from the lower Surface of each of the shelves. In this manner, the shelves may be stacked and interlocked with each other prior to inserting them between the topplatetll and -bottom plate El. Each shelf 'l is provided with a plurality of rows of apertures 84, asshown most clearly in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, the edges of which are milled adjacent the upper surface'of the body portion 8i) of the shelf to form sloping sl-ots 85 diametrically opposed to each other. These slots are adapted to receive adjacent sides of a crystal so that the crystal will be supported with one of its corners extending directly downwardly at the center of the aperture 85, as shown most clearly in Fig. 5. 'Ihe upper corner of the crystals 69 thus positioned on the shelves lt! will extend into the aperture 84 in alignment with it and formed in the next adjoining upper shelf 10 and in this manner the Icrystals will be prevented from dropping out of the shelves, although the `shelves are tilted, together with the entire tray, during the course of dipping them in the acid bath or rinsing bath. Since the upper points of the crystals 69 are just below the plane of the upper surface of the ledges 8 I, the crystals 69 in the top shelf l would fall out of the shelf unless some device were provided for preventing this and, accordingly, the cover Ivplate 'l5 is provided for the top shelf and this cover plate has a pair of apertures 86 adjacent diametrically opposed corners of it to receive the pins 32' on the topmost shelf l0 to be assembled in the tray. In order to permit the material of the various baths to contact practically all surfaces of the crystals 69, the bottom i plate 6I has a cut-out 87 formed in its upper sur--l face which makes it correspond generally to the construction of the shelves and the material of the acid or rinsing baths may freely enter the lower ends of the apertures 84 in the lowermost shelf due to the further provision of a plurality of apertures 88 in the bottom plate 6 I.

What is claimed is:

l. An article holding tray for supporting articles during their immersion in acid and rinsing baths comprising spaced, perforated top and bottom plates, means for rigidly interconnecting said plates one to the other, a plurality of article supporting shelves positionable between said top and bottom plates, said shelves having article receiving surfaces formed in them for receiving articles between them, and removable pins for locking saids'helves in position between Vthe top bottom plates.

2. An article holding tray for suporting articles during their immersion in acid and rinsing baths comprising spaced, perforated top and bottom plates, means for rigidly interconnecting said plates one to the other, a plurality of article supporting shelves positionalble between said top and bottom plates, said shelves having article receiving surfaces formed in them for receiving articles between them, and removable pins insertable through the top plate and into the bottom plate for locking said shelves in position loe--v tween the top and bottom plates.

3. An article holding tray for supporting articles during their immersion in acid and rinsing baths comprising spaced, perforated top and bottom plates, means for rigidly interconnecting said plates one to the other, a plurality of perforated article supporting shelves positionable between said top and bottom plates, said shelves having article receiving surfaces formed in them for receiving articles between them, and removable pins for locking said shelves in position between the top and bottom plates, said bottom plate having ridges formed on its upper surface to cooperate with the bottom shelf to provide a passage for the bath materials to perforations in the bottom shelf.

4. An article holding tray for supporting articles during their immersion in acid and rinsing baths comprising spaced, perforated top and bottom plates, means for rigidly interconnecting said plates one to the other, a pluralityof article supporting shelves positionable between said top and bottom plates, said shelves having article receiving surfaces formed in them for receiving articles between them, and removable pins for locking said shelves in position between` the top and bottom plates, said shelves being notched at their ends to provide surfaces for engaging the pins when the tray is tilted, thereby to prevent the shelves from falling out of the tray.

5. An article holding tray for supporting articles during their immersion in acid` and rinsing baths made completely of acid resistant material and comprising spaced, perforated top and bottom plates, means for rigidly interconnecting said plates one to the other, a plurality of article supporting shelves positionable between said top and bottom plates, said shelves having article receiving surfaces formed in them to receive articles between them, and removable pins for locking said shelves in position between the top and bottom plates.

6. An article holding tray for supporting articles during their immersion in acid and rinsing baths made completely of acid resistant material and comprising spaced, perforated top and bottom plates, means for rigidly interconnecting said plates one to the other, a plurality of article supporting shelves positionable between said top and bottom plates, said shelves having article receiving surfaces formed in them to receive articles between them, and removable pins extending through the top plate and into the bottom plate for locking said shelves in position between the top and bottom plates.

7. An article holding tray comprising a rectangular framework including a perforated top plate, a perforated bottom plate and spaced end membersy shelf receiving grooves formed in the end members, perforated shelves having article receiving grooves formed therein insertable in the shelf -receiving grooves, removable side plates for holding articles on said shelves, and removable pins for locking the shelves in their shelfreceiving grooves.

8. An article holding tray comprising a -rectangular framework including a perforated top plate, a perforated bottom plate and spaced end members, a handle extending transversely of and fixed to the top plate, shelf-receiving ways formed in the end members, perforated shelves having article receiving grooves formed in them insertable in the shelf-receiving ways, removable side plates having locking surfaces engageable with cooperating locking surfaces on the bottom plate, and removable pins for holding said side plates with their locking surfaces engaging the locking surfaces of the bottom plate. V 9. An article holding tray for holding crystals during the etching and subsequent rinsing thereof comprising spaced top and bottom plates, means rigidly interconnecting the top and bottom plates, a series of interlocking nested shelves positionable betwen said top and bottom plates, crystal receiving surfaces formed in the upper surfaces of each of the nested shelves to position crystals between the shelves, and removable pins for locking the nested shelves in position between the top and bottom plates.

10. An article holding tray for holding crystals during the etching and subsequent rinsing thereof comprising spaced top and bottom plates, means rigidly interconnecting the top and bottom plates, a series of interlocking nested shelves positionable between said top and bottom plates, crystal receiving surfaces formed in the upper surfaces of each of the nested shelves to position crystals between the shelves, removable pins for locking the nested shelves in position between the top and bottom plates, said shelves having ledges at their ends for spacing the body portions thereof from adjoining shelves, pins extending from opposite ends of opposite ledges, sockets formed in the bottom of each shelf to receive the pins on the ledges, and a cover plate for the top shelf provided with apertures to receive the pins projecting from the ledges of the top shelf of a stack.

WILBUR L. HOFF. 

